On this sobering day when people around the world unite to March Against Monsanto and the day after the US Senate voted by a wide margin (71-27) to reject an amendment by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to allow states to require labels on food or beverages made with genetically modified ingredients, a courageous farmer gives us all reason to celebrate.
Vernon Hershberger of Baraboo, Wisconsin has been on trial this past week for the criminal charge of distributing unpasteurized milk from his Grazin’ Acres dairy farm without obtaining a milk producer’s license. He was also charged with operating a retail food establishment and dairy plant without a license. A fourth charge involved violation of a hold order placed on his dairy products after the state raided his farm.
The prosecution had previously offered Vernon a deal if he pled guilty to 2 of the 4 charges – he would pay a fine and be placed on probation. The final condition stipulated that he would agree to never sell or distribute raw milk products again without a license.
Vernon refused the deal and chose to go court.
In the highly anticipated verdict yesterday, Vernon Hershberger was found not guilty of 3 of the 4 charges against him by a jury of his peers:
- Not guilty of operating a retail food establishment without a license.
- Not guilty of operating a dairy farm as a milk producer without a license.
- Not guilty of operating a dairy plant without a license.
Vernon was found guilty of the fourth charge, however, for violating the hold order placed on his dairy products after the state’s raid on his farm. At sentencing, he faces up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
According to David Gumpert, author of The Raw Milk Revolution and writer at The Complete Patient, the guilty verdict is ironic as Vernon was forced to violate the holding order in order to be charged criminally and thereby be eligible for the jury trial which ultimately acquitted him on the three licensing charges.
While the verdict is a big win for private buying clubs everywhere and affirmation from the court for the ongoing work of Grazin’ Acres, the possibility of jail time or a hefty fine no doubt loom large for the Hershberger family.
So as we March Against Monsanto in our communities today, let’s keep in mind that it isn’t just large crowds of people worldwide that will stop the growing threat of corporate Food Fascism, but courageous small farmers like Vernon Hershberger who are paving the way for our food rights and standing firm for the sacred relationship between farmer and consumer by refusing to cut deals or shut down in the face of aggressive harassment by the State.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Source: HERSHBERGER VERDICT: NOT GUILTY (X3) & GUILTY (X1)
Picture Credit
The freedom for raw milk cause could show that the sought after good bacteria and important enzymes in raw milk enable vibrant health. Even the health benefits of yogurt are well know by even conventional venues.
In pasteurized milk millions of harmful bacteria are present besides pus cells, as contrasted to raw milk procured in a ‘clean’ procedure of cleaning with iodine as usual before milking containing only good Lactobacilli ( and other GOOD bacteria). Then this information should convince juries of the health benefits of raw milk. REASON AND LEGITiMATE science should prevail. The laws for pasteurization are based on the filthy CAFO farms with crowded, sick cows on antibiotics, and permitting cow stool into the milk – thus allowing filthy milking conditions requiring pasteurization.
Our government panders to Monsanto and persecutes small businesses. This trend has become all too familiar. In this case, the “violation of a hold order” should be moot when the foundation of the hold order was based solely upon the government’s false allegations.
Fraancis, I believe the foundation of the hold order was based solely upon the government’s false allegations that there was adulteration or misbranding. Vernon was not allowed a defense because the prosecution said he should have requested a hearing on the hold order when he had the chance. That’s where “The Farm To Consumer Legal Defense Fund” came up with the idea that Vernon’s religious beliefs didn’t allow Vernon to accuse the state of an illegal act. But I also heard the defense ask the court if it was going to allow Vernon a defense. In other words if Vernon wasn’t going to be allowed a defense what were we doing in court? I think the jury’s not guilty verdict may have been based on the prosecution’s lousy argument and on what Vernon was not allowed to say. Vernon really wasn’t allowed a defense.
Fraancis, “In this case, the “violation of a hold order” should be moot” because the food has already been consumed without incident.
how does one donate?
Could not find ANY NY Times online or Huffington Post article about the march.
Yahoo did feature the AP article in their finance section:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/millions-march-against-monsanto-over-222416720.html
And good to hear about Mr. Herberger’s partial win.
This is my first look at this blog. Are there 10,000 like-minded people who are willing to put in a dollar to pay Vernon’s fine for him? I’m willing. Where do I send it?
My admiration goes to Vernon Hershberger!
Make no mistake about it, Vernon will easily raise the $10,000 if needs be. This is a victory!
Oh Yea! This is good news for this Wisconsinite. I’m very curious about the following point, as it seems that there are some crazy ass laws that need to be struck:
According to David Gumpert, author of The Raw Milk Revolution and writer at The Complete Patient, the guilty verdict is ironic as Vernon was forced to violate the holding order in order to be charged criminally and thereby be eligible for the jury trial which ultimately acquitted him on the three licensing charges.
Here in Colorado, in Weld County (among others), a farmer spoke at the March today about how is is regularly harassed by the local commissioner, sheriff and police — simply for operating a natural farm. Baby, it ain’t Russia any more! They’ve broken into his home in the middle of the night with 40 police officers, multiple times.
I’d like to know what percentage of the “jury of his peers” was made up of farmers.